Page 271 - D&D Bestiary

SHAMBLING MOUND
A shambling mound, sometimes called a shambler,
trudges ponderously through bleak swamps, dismal
marshes, and rain forests, consuming any organic
matter in its path. This rotting heap of animated
vegetation looms up half again as tall as a human,
tapering into a faceless "head" at its top.
All-Consuming Devourers. A shambling mound
feeds on any organic material, tirelessly consuming
plants as it moves and devouring animals that can't
escape it. Only the shambling mounds' rarity and •
plodding speed prevent them from overwhelming entire
ecosystems. Even so, their presence leeches natural
environments of plant and animal life, and an unsettling
quiet pervades the swamps and woods haunted by these
..)
ever-hungry horrors.
Unseen Hunters. Composed of decaying leaves,
vines, roots, and other natural swamp and forest
compost, shamblers can blend into their environs.
Because they move slowly, they rarely attempt to
pursue and catch creatures. Rather, they remain in Large plant, unaligned
place, sustaining themselves by absorbing nutrients
from their surroundings as they wait for prey to come ce Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
to them. When a creature passes near or alights upon Hit Points 136 (16d10 + 48)
a shambling mound, the monster comes to life, seizing Speed 20ft., swim 20ft.
and absorbing the unwary prey.
Spawned by Lightning. A shambling mound results STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
from a phenomenon in which lightning or fey magic 18 (+4) 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 10 (+0) 5 (-3)
invigorates an otherwise ordinary swamp plant. As the
plant is reborn into its second life, it chokes the life from Skills Stealth +2
plants and animals around it, mulching their corpses Damage Resistances cold, fire
Damage Immunities lightning
in a heap around its roots. Those roots eventually give
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, exhaustion
up their reliance on the soil, directing the shambling Senses blindsight 60ft. (blind beyond this radius),
mound to seek out new sources of food. passive Perception 10
The Weed that Walks. The instinct that drives Languages -
a shambling mound is its central root-stem, buried Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
somewhere inside its ponderous form. The rest
of a shambler consists of the rotting heap that it
Lightning Absorption. Whenever the shambling mound is
simultaneously accumulates and feeds on, which
subjected to lightning damage, it takes no damage and regains
protects the root-stem and animates to smash and
a number of hit points equal to the lightning damage dealt.
smother the life from any creature.
The dense mass of a shambling mound's body shrugs ACTIONS
off the effects of cold and fire. Lightning reinvigorates
Multiattack. The shambling mound makes two slam attacks.
the root-stem, strengthening the shambling mound and
If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is
bolstering its consumptive drive.
grappled (escape DC 14), and the shambling mound uses its
Despite its monstrous form, the shambling mound is a Engulf on it.
living plant that requires air and nourishment. Although
it doesn't sleep the way an animal does, it can lie Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
dormant for days on end before rising to hunt for food. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
A Resurgent Menace. If a shambling mound faces Engulf The shambling mound engulfs a Medium or smaller
defeat before an overwhelming foe, the root-stem can creature grappled by it. The engulfed target is blinded,
feign death, collapsing the remains of its mound. If not restrained, and unable to breathe, and it must succeed on a
subsequently killed, the root-stem beds down in the DC 14 Constitution saving throw at the start of each of the
shambler's remains to slowly regrow its full body, then mound's turns or take 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the
once again sets out to consume all it can. In this way, mound moves, the engulfed target moves with it. The mound
shambling mound infestations long thought destroyed can have only one creature engulfed at a time.
can recur time and again.

S,HAMlK1NG MO-ONll